NAB Outlines Spectrum Policy for White House

National Association of Broadcasters President Gordon Smith outlined the association's spectrum policy in a July 19 letter to Lawrence Summers, director of the White House's Economic Policy Council. Smith told Summers that he thought a "holistic" approach to spectrum policy could find spectrum to repurpose without compromising broadcasters' ability to deliver a robust service to viewers.

Smith said he had no problem with incentive auctions that were truly voluntary, but said that any spectrum policy must make sure that

1) viewers still have access to broadcast digital offerings including multicast channels and mobile DTV;

2) that stations who do not give up spectrum do not suffer reduced coverage or signal degradation and interference;

3) viewers must be able to benefit from innovative new uses of broadcast spectrum by broadcasters themselves, including on-demand programming and 3DTV; and

4) broadcasters should not be charged a user fee for remaining on their spectrum.